25 Thanksgiving Bible Verses for Kids and Families (KJV)

Updated October 25, 2026

Quick answer: The best-known Thanksgiving Bible verse is "O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever" (Psalm 107:1). Other favorites are 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ("In every thing give thanks"), Psalm 100:4 ("Enter into his gates with thanksgiving"), and James 1:17 ("Every good gift... is from above"). Below are 25 Thanksgiving verses grouped for the dinner table, for kids, and for hard seasons — plus a free printable.

All verses are quoted from the King James Version (KJV), which is in the public domain, so you can freely print and share them.

Free printable: Download our Thanksgiving Bible verses for kids PDF — 8 verse pages kids can color and copy, plus an "I am thankful for..." page for the table.

The 10 most popular Thanksgiving Bible verses

1. "O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever." — Psalm 107:1
2. "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." — 1 Thessalonians 5:18
3. "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name." — Psalm 100:4
4. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights." — James 1:17
5. "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." — Philippians 4:6
6. "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful." — Colossians 3:15
7. "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." — Psalm 118:24
8. "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." — Ephesians 5:20
9. "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." — 2 Corinthians 9:15
10. "I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works." — Psalm 9:1

Short Thanksgiving Bible verses for kids

Young children do best with one short line. Pick one for the week of Thanksgiving and say it before every meal.

• "Rejoice evermore." — 1 Thessalonians 5:16
• "O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good." — Psalm 136:1
• "Pray without ceasing." — 1 Thessalonians 5:17
• "Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord." — Psalm 150:6
• "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." — 2 Corinthians 9:15

Want more memory verses for the rest of the year? See our 30 Bible verses for kids to memorize.

Bible verses to read at the Thanksgiving table

These read well aloud before the meal:

• "Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing." — Psalm 145:16
• "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." — Colossians 3:17
• "For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving." — 1 Timothy 4:4
• "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." — Psalm 103:2
• "Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High." — Psalm 50:14

Thanksgiving verses for hard seasons

Thanksgiving can be hard after a loss or a difficult year. These verses give thanks without pretending everything is easy:

• "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." — Lamentations 3:22–23
• "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him." — Psalm 28:7
• "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God." — Romans 8:28
• "Although the fig tree shall not blossom... Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation." — Habakkuk 3:17–18
• "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee." — Psalm 55:22

5 simple Thanksgiving activities for kids

1. Thankful jar. Each day in November, family members write one thing they're thankful for on a slip of paper. Read them aloud on Thanksgiving.
2. Verse place cards. Write a short verse on each guest's place card and let each person read theirs before the meal.
3. Color and copy. Use the free Thanksgiving verse printable as a morning activity during Thanksgiving week.
4. Psalm 100 memory challenge. It's only five verses. Learn one per weekday the week before Thanksgiving.
5. Thank-you notes. Have kids write a note to a pastor, teacher, neighbor, or grandparent, and include a verse.

Homeschooling? Thanksgiving week is a great time for a lighter, project-based plan — see our homeschool schedule guide for ideas on flexible weeks.

Frequently asked questions

What is the main Thanksgiving Bible verse?

Psalm 107:1 — "O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever" — is the verse most often used for Thanksgiving. The same phrase appears several times in the Psalms and in 1 Chronicles 16:34.

What is a good Thanksgiving verse for kids?

Short verses work best: "Rejoice evermore" (1 Thessalonians 5:16), "O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good" (Psalm 136:1), or "In every thing give thanks" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

What does the Bible say about being thankful?

The Bible tells believers to give thanks "in every thing" (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and "always for all things" (Ephesians 5:20), and connects thanksgiving with prayer (Philippians 4:6) and peace (Colossians 3:15).

Is Thanksgiving in the Bible?

The American holiday is not in the Bible, but giving thanks is a major biblical theme. The Old Testament includes thank offerings (Leviticus 7:12) and harvest feasts such as the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:39–43).

Can I print these verses?

Yes. The KJV is in the public domain, and our printable PDF is free to print and share.